Singapore Airlines, Scoot and Silk Air open up to transit passengers

Singapore Airlines (SIA) and SilkAir customers will be able to transit through Singapore’s Changi Airport on an oneway basis from Australia and New Zealand to the SIA Group’s global network from June 11, 2020. The one-way transit channel will be subject to a number of requirements and restrictions, say the airlines and these included: • Connections must be no longer than 48 hours. • Customers can only travel on SIA Group (Singapore Airlines, SilkAir and Scoot) flights and cannot connect to other carriers once in Singapore. • Customers must meet all departing and arriving Government requirements and restrictions. Customers will only be able to transit in Changi via SIA flights departing from Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, and Auckland and Christchurch in New Zealand. Transit will also be available via the Scoot flights departing from Perth, Australia. READ: Airline industry to lose $84 billion in 2020. Singapore Airlines Regional Vice President southwest Pacific, Mr. Philip Goh, welcomed the opening of the oneway transit channel but cautioned it is a small step in a long and gradual process before international travel can resume without restrictions. “The decision to allow customers traveling from Australia and New Zealand to destinations in the current SIA Group network via transiting through Singapore’s Changi Airport is a small but welcome step in our journey towards recovery,” Mr. Goh said. “It is important to remember that Government travel restrictions in Australia and New Zealand as well as in many other countries remain in place, and opening of limited one-way transit is not a sign that international travel is back to normal. “The one-way transit channel will allow those who wish to return home from Australia or New Zealand to do so, in a COVID-safe manner, both onboard our aircraft and while in transit at Changi Airport. “Customers who wish to book a flight should ensure they review all of the transit and travel requirements, including whether they can legally depart Australia or New Zealand and whether they will be allowed entry at their country of arrival. “We know that news of such transit channels will give people cause for excitement and hope. However, these feelings must be tempered at the current time with an understanding that we are still some time away from even considering being able to book an overseas holiday.” For the latest flight schedules, please refer here. As part of the approval, customers will be allowed to transfer on flights between any airline within the SIA Group. However, transfers to and from flights operated by other airlines will not be permitted. Customers should also ensure that they meet the entry requirements for their final destination, as well as the departure requirements from Australia and New Zealand. These requirements can be sourced from: Australia: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/leaving-australia https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/ New Zealand: https://safetravel.govt.nz/covid-19-coronavirus https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/covid-19/border-closures-and-exceptions